Matteo Martignoni

 

 

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring an incredible new singer from Italy by the name of Matteo Martignoni.  Matteo does a very beautiful cover of the late great Lucio Dalla's haunting "Anna e Marco (Anna and Mark)".  Matteo gives a superb performance that just melts the heart.  One might say that he truly sings with angel fire love.  Please click on this link to watch "Anna e Marco". This song will make you look at the world, and life, differently.   It is so good.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Jake Heston Miller │ Oliver

 

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

Last week I had the opportunity to attend a fantastic new production of "Oliver" at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, located in southwest Washington D. C.  What made the show very interesting was that it had a theater-in-the-round configuration.  As you can tell from the photos above, it is a very small theater, and holds about 680 people.  The play is performed in the center floor surrounded by four sections of seats.  The play and the action is really in-your-face, as you are so close to the actors.  The seating is quite intimate, so you really feel that you are a part of the play.  Nine year old Jake Heston Miller plays Oliver, and is the star of the show.  His singing is outstanding, and he has a stage presence that is superb for his very young age.  Jake studies voice with professor Elysabeth Muscat at the Peabody Institute, which is part of the John Hopkins University in Maryland, so his vocal training is top-of-the-line classical.  Professor Muscat is the dean of voice studies at Peabody.  When Jake sang "Where Is Love", my eyes filled with tears.  His rendition was so moving that my heart just melted.  Jake's voice is strong and has unusual depth for one so young.  By-the-way, he is a straight "A" student in the fourth grade, and enjoys playing tennis.  Jake lives in Warrenton, Virginia.  I was on vacation in Washington D. C. with a friend, and our main itinerary was to visit the Washington D. C. Mall, but quite by chance I saw an advertisement in the local paper for "Oliver", and we decided that it was a must see even though the tickets were quite pricey at $122.00 each, but it was more than worth it, and was money well spent.  Getting to  Arena Stage was easy from downtown Washington D. C.  We took the Metro at Union Station, and got off at the Waterfront Metro stop, which is very close to the theater.  "Oliver" runs from October 30, 2015 to January 3, 2016 at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, so if you are in the Washington D. C. area, it is worth seeing.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Ivan Kupala │ Vlad Krutskikh

I thought that I would bring in the New Year with Vlad Krutskikh and Street Magic, singing their cool rendition of "Ivan Kupala".  Ivan Kupala Day (St. John the Baptist Day), is celebrated in Eastern European countries around July 7.  Tvorila Night, the eve of Ivan Kupala Day, is considered to be a time for good humor, mischief, and boisterous fun.   On Ivan Kupala day itself, children have water fights, and perform pranks mostly involving pouring water over someone's head.  After all, it is St. John the Baptist day.  I am a bit nostalgic about "Ivan Kupala", as it is the song that introduced me to the amazing, and entertaining, Vlad Krutskikh and Street Magic.  It is interesting to note that all the performers in this cool video are wearing Ivan Kupala (St. John The Baptist) themed costumes.  Happy New Year to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Omar Arnaout

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the very talented Omar Arnaout.  Omar is from Bucarest, Romania, and was the finalist in Next Star, a Romanian talent show.  It showcases young people from the ages of three to Thirteen.  It started in 2013, and Omar, who is of mixed Lebanese-Romanian ancestry, was its first winner.  Omar has two older brothers.  Omar is an incredible talent and his career is just starting, so we will be hearing a lot more from him.  It is so cool to hear him sing in both Arabic and English in the video "Beautiful Life".  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Someday At Christmas │ Justin Bieber

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and  a Happy New Year to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Lux Aurumque

Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar

 

 

 

 

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring Maîtrise de Garçons de Colmar, the incredible boys' choir from France, singing the haunting "In Paradisum" from Duruflé's Requiem.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Damien

As you have probably noticed, Damien is the mascot of Angel Watchers, so it is only appropriate that I feature him in his very own video called "Damien".  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Cory │ If You Just Believe

A moment of peace from Angel Watchers.  A Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you maybe.

Johnny Hammer

My Dear Aunt Martha and I spent the whole afternoon surfing the internet trying to find something new, and different to share on Angel Watchers.  Well, Aunt Martha finally suggested that I search for some Techno Praise music.  You see, Aunt Martha, having been a professional opera singer all of her life, still keeps tabs on all of the latest musical trends, which is something that I am really loathe to do.  I had never heard of Techno Praise but I do trust Aunt Martha's judgment.  I typed in the search term, and dozens of hits popped up.  It did not take long to find this Techno Praise version of Mark Lowry's wonderful Christmas gem "Mary, Did You Know?".  It is sung by a fresh new singer by the name of Johnny Hammer, and he is sensational.  The power, honesty, innocence, and freshness of Johnny's performance brought tears to both Aunt Martha's, and my eyes.  Johnny also has an amazing angelic presence that makes him so much fun to watch.  I predict that this version of "Mary, Did You Know?" will turn out to be a perennial Christmas favorite.  By the way, the group that Johnny belongs to is called Technopraise.  Please join Aunt Martha and I in watching this amazing video by clicking on the widget below.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Tom Cully

Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Yura and Karina

Once in a great while, I come across a video that really catches my fancy in a big way.  As is often the case, I was looking for something else, and serendipitously, I find a precious treasure.  To say that I was totally captivated by this video would be an understatement.  In this edition of Angel Watchers, I present Yura who is seven, and Karina, who is six, from the Northern Ukrainian city of Berdichev.  Thanks to Yura and Karina, we are allowed just for a few minutes, to glimpse beyond the veil that usually separates us from seeing the pure innocence, and unbounded joys of childhood.  Yura is amazingly strong and athletic for his age, and makes all of his moves seem so effortless.  It's almost as if he is defying gravity, and throughout all of this, Yura has a beatific smile on his face.  Karina, is the perfect dance partner, and plays her part extremely well.  I can easily imagine both of them as being the set-piece on top of an Angelic Music Box.  Watching this video is truly a transcendental experience.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Libera │ Santa Will Find You

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring Libera, the extraordinary choir from England.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Troye Sivan │ Somewhere Over The Rainbow

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the incomparable Troye Sivan, and his mystical rendition of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".  What more can I say about this out-of-this world performance?  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Nico's Challenge

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the incredible adventures of Nico Calabria.  This is Nico's story.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Antonio José

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring Antonio José, who is an outstanding singer from Spain.  I've been a big fan of Rumba Flamenca since the late 1970s, but I have never heard it sung like this before in my whole life.  Antonio José does an incredible version of "Te Traigo Flores (I Bring You Flowers)".  It is hard to sit still while this kind of music is playing.  Take notice of the incredible back-up dancers. They are sensational!  Click on this link to hear Antonio's beautiful music on Kids' Music:  Antonio José on Kids' Music  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

The Boys Air Choir

"Miserere Mei, Deus (Have Mercy On Me, O God)" composed by Gregorio Allegri, is probably one of the most remarkable musical compositions to come out of the Italian Renaissance.  It was written around 1630 during the reign of Pope Urban VIII, for the exclusive use in the Sistine Chapel during matins, as part of the Tenebrae services on Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week.  The Tenebrae (Latin for shadows or darkness), which started at 3 a.m., consisted mainly of Gregorian Chant, and this went on for hours on end.  One can just imagine how numbing this must have been to the ears and minds of the worshipers in the Sistine Chapel.  Well, an acoustical respite was in store for them during the last part of the service which usually occurred around 7 p.m.  First they would hear a G minor triad, the most lovely of all minor chords being sung, then the polyphony that followed all of the monophonic chanting of the day and early evening would melt away, and this ethereal music would resound from the walls of the Sistine Chapel.  The contrast between the Gregorian Chants and the "Miserere Mei Deus" was so drastic, that it caused the listeners to be spellbound.  It is no wonder that the Pope ordered the Sistine Chapel's choir master to protect the score of the "Miserere Mei, Deus" and it was reserved exclusively for the Vatican's use.  During the rest of the year the score to "Miserere Mei, Deus" was kept under lock and key in the Vatican Archives secured under the Papal Seal.  Adding to the mystery surrounding "Miserere Mei, Deus", transcribing it, or performing it elsewhere was punishable by excommunication from the Catholic Church.  But, as with most forbidden things, the score of "Miserere Mei, Deus" did not remain a secret.  The fourteen-year old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was visiting Rome, when he first heard the piece during the Wednesday Holy Week service in the Sistine Chapel.  Later that day, he wrote it down entirely from memory which is a remarkable feat, as the music is incredibly complex.  He returned to the Sistine Chapel that Friday to make minor corrections.  Some time during Mozart's travels, he met the British historian Dr. Charles Burney, who obtained the transcription from Mozart, and Burney took it to London where it was published in 1771.  Once the "Miserere Mei, Deus" was published and in the hands of the general music establishment, the Papal ban was lifted.  Mozart was summoned to Rome by the Pope because of this, but instead of excommunicating the boy, the Pope showered praises on him for his feat of musical genius.  In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring an incredible performance of the "Miserere Mei, Deus" by the Boys Air Choir.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Good To Be Bad

This video is really good!  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Halloween With Damien

As you have probably noticed, Damien is the mascot of Angel Watchers, so it is only appropriate that we feature him in his very own video called "Halloween With Damien", from the exclusive Smiling Angel Creations collection.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Ky Baldwin

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring an exciting new singer from Australia by the name of Ky Baldwin.  He is also a talented guitarist.  Ky has a cool YouTube Channel located at this link:  Ky Baldwin - Official YouTube Channel   In the video below Ky does a beautiful cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Ştefan Roşcovan

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring a wonderful singer by the name of Ştefan Roşcovan.  Ştefan was born on March 26, 1999, in Chișinău, which is the capital, and largest municipality of the Republic of Moldova.  His parents Angela and Anatol Cabari Roşcovan, are well known in the Moldavian music scene.  In addition to Ştefan's highly charged emotional performance, I was impressed by his excellent selection of song.  "Et Si Tu N'existais Pas (And If You Did Not Exist)" was composed by the late American singer/composer Joe Dassin.  It's been such a long time since I've heard that song.  You see, Joe Dassin passed away on August 20, 1980 while on vacation in Tahiti, and as far as the entertainment business is concerned, that is ancient history, so I was very surprised to hear Ştefan singing a terrific cover version of "Et Si Tu N'existais Pas".  Please click on the video widget below to watch a very moving musical performance of "Et Si Tu N'existais Pas" by Ştefan Roşcovan.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Skaterdater │ A Blast From The Past

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring "Skaterdater".  This is the classic film-short from 1965 that the won the Palme d'Or for Best Short Film at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival.  It was also nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Subject category, and won First prizes in international film festivals including Moscow and Venice.  This is a great coming-of-age film.  One thing that is really unique about this movie is that it has no dialogue, but to compensate for that, the visuals are astonishing and it has a terrific soundtrack.  Incidentally this was the first skateboard movie ever made, and it is probably still the best of the genre.  By-the-way, Carroll Ballard, the director of "The Black Stallion" was one of the camera-persons on this project.  I must say that watching "Skaterdater" made me feel so young and nostalgic for days gone by.  There are parts of "Skaterdater" that captures the mystical and carefree nature of youth perfectly.  "Skaterdater" is really about the Zen of skateboarding.  You can watch the complete movie by clicking on the video widget below.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Ronan Parke

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring the incredible Ronan Parke.  This song and video is so amazing it really does not need any introduction.  The "Rainbow Connections" is one of the best music videos on the internet at this time.  Thank you Ronan Parke for the "Rainbow Connection", it really has brightened my day.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be. 

Libera │ The Prayer

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring Libera, the extraordinary choir from England.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Douglas Espinola

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring an exciting new singer from Brazil.  His name is Douglas Espinola, and he was born in São Paulo, on August 1, 2002.  Douglas is a singer, musician, and composer, and those talents shine forth in his performances.  He has a great YouTube channel that can be found here:  Douglas Espinola on YouTube Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be. 

With Love And Peace From Libera

Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Alec In WILDerland │ Recherché

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am bringing back the incredibly entertaining, and talented, Alec J. Fischer.  Alec's website can be accessed by clicking on this link:  Alec In WILDerland - official website    Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

What A Wonderful World │ Libera

In this edition of Angel Watchers I am featuring Libera, the extraordinary choir from England, singing "What A Wonderful World".  This song was co-written by American composers Bob Thiele and George David Weiss.  Louis Armstrong had a mega-hit of "What A Wonderful World" in 1967.  It is interesting to note that Kenny G dubbed a saxophone solo over Armstrong's original recording of "What A Wonderful World" in 1999, and that version is available on his "Classics In the Key of G" album.  It's actually a really cool rendition.  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter

I've been a fan of video games since the late 1970s.  It's one of my passions, especially vintage video games.  Needless to say my interests in video games, and video game consoles, do no go further than about the year 2007.  The modern video games just leave me cold.  It's the classic video games that really intrigue me.  Quite by accident I stumbled upon a brand new video game called "The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter", and it is probably the coolest game that I have ever played.  It has caused me to reconsider my previous aversion to newer games.  The plot of "The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter", has an irresistible evocative power that draws you into it.  Paul Prospero, a private detective with paranormal abilities, receives a strange fanboy letter from Ethan Carter, a tween, who is extremely aware of the supernatural, and bizarre things.  Ethan's letter brings Prospero to the Red Creek Valley where Ethan and his family lives.  Prospero knows that Ethan is missing, and begins to explore Red Creek Valley, and investigates its dark secrets.  It is a quest to find the missing Ethan Carter before its too late to save him.  That is the essence of the game.  One might say that "The Vanishing Of Ethan Carter" is a mixture of "Myst" and "Twin Peaks", or "Myst" on steroids.  It is a first-person perspective game, so it makes you feel like you are in the action.  As a side note, the visuals in this game are stunningly beautiful. Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.

Cuando Me Vaya │ Los Chicos de la Escolanía

Los Chicos de la Escolanía, from the Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo, is a very special choral group from Spain.  In 1995 they had an international hit with the song "Nirvana".  They also had a very unique sound then, that was sort of a cross between Enigma, and Hildegard Von Bingen.  At that time they were known collectively as Elbosco.  Their latest hit is called "Cuando Me Vaya (When I Go)", and it was recorded in collaboration with pop star Jaime Terrón, who is the lead singer of the musical group Melocos.  It is so beautiful, so plaintive, so soulful, that I wept when I first heard it.  There is a haunting harmonic tag at the end of the bridge, followed by some spoken words that sends chills up my spine.  This is what contemporary music is all about.  There are three things that we have in common with heaven while we are still here on Earth.  They are Light, Love, and Music.  Los Chicos de la Escolanía possesses all three in great abundance.  It is interesting to note that the Los Chicos de la Escolania choir is comprised of young men between the ages of nine and fourteen, and they all live in The Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo (located North of Madrid).  The monastery was built in the 16th century by Filipe II, when Spain was considered one of the greatest and most powerful empires on Earth.  Astrologers, sorcerers, physicians and architects sought out the monastery as a supremely magical and strategic location.  The Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo has a cool website that can be found at this link:  Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo - Official Website  Escolania del Escorial has an excellent YouTube channel that can be found here:  Escolonia del Escorial - YouTube Channel  Safe journeys to all the fans of Angel Watchers, wherever you may be.